Sony Xperia Z5 review

The Sony Xperia Z5 currently has an Informr score of 7.9 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 31
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Incredibly fast autofocus

Camera offers excellent color and contrast in all lighting situations

Good processor performance

Sleek design

Display has excellent color vibrancy and viewing angles

What's bad

Occasional pauses when loading apps

Phone heats up even during basic use

Sharp edges makes it uncomfortable to hold

After only a few months on the market, Sony replaced the Z3+ with the Z5. Although there are some new features on the Z5, critics were not surprised to see that there wasn't any huge innovation with this iteration of Sony's flagship phone. Like its predecessors, the Z5 is a mostly glass and metal affair with plastic on the corners. Unlike earlier Z-series phones, reviewers point out the back glass of the Z5 has a frosted finish, which not only helped prevent scratches and smudges but also gave it what they call a more "refined" appearance. While it looks good, they warn the sides of the phone stick out from the glass giving it a sharp feel. Still, they add it still has a premium look and feel and has the added bonus of being dust and waterproof. Perhaps the biggest change design-wise is the oblong power button along the side. This change is due to the new fingerprint scanner which, according to reviewers, works perfectly regardless of which hand they used.

Not much has changed from the Z3+ to the Z5 in terms of the display. It comes with the same 5.2-inch full HD (1,080 x 1,920) IPS display topped with glass. While not game changing, experts still consider it "perfectly good" with deep blacks and punchy color without being too over-saturated. They also appreciated the brightness levels and viewing angles as they were able to read the screen even in sunny conditions. Still, experts agree it can't stand against the contrast and accurate colors of the Samsung's or Apple's display though Alphr adds, "…it’s the match of anything else on the market right now."

The octa-core processor comes with four 2.0GHz processors that kick in for more intense tasks and four 1.5GHz ones for more basic tasks all backed up with 3GB of RAM. In practice, reviewers didn't experience any lag when multi-tasking or playing even the most processor intensive games though there was the occasional long pause when opening apps. They did, however, notice it got quite warm even during simple tasks. Other internal specs include 32GB of internal storage backed up with a micoSD card for additional storage. A 2,900mAh battery kept the Z5 running for about 2 days when critics used it lightly.

Sony has not only upgraded its rear camera to a 23MP snapper they also have what they consider the fastest autofocus on the market at 0.03 seconds. While experts did not time it to the exact millisecond, they do agree that it is the fastest they have seen so far and offered clear and in-focus pictures every time. The image they captured came out vibrant with excellent details and contrast in bright, low and every other lighting situation in between thanks to the fast autofocus and optical image stabilization.

The Sony Xperia Z5 garnered high praise and recommendations from reviewers. Recombu states, "Sony's Xperia Z5 is one of the most desirable and feature-packed phone of 2015…" PC Advisor states, "There's no doubt that the Xperia Z5 is a solid flagship smartphone from Sony…"

Android

Operating system

Operating system

Android

2 GHz

Processor

Processor

2 GHz

5.2"

Screen Size

Screen Size

5.2"

20+ MP

Camera

Camera

20+ MP

2900 mAh

Battery

What the Critics Are Saying...

The Xperia Z5 is a powerful smartphone that gets the job done in a no-nonsense, business-like manner. It also happens to be equipped with a jaw-droppingly good camera and a relatively affordable price tag, which goes a long way in making up for its cumbersome software and physical design. Unfortunat...

- Michael Desjardin, Reviewed

If you are looking for a well-designed phone that can take a beating, flies through performance, takes mostly good photos, and looks stunning doing it, there are not many other phones out there that fit this description better than the Xperia Z5. Couple all of that with a near stock experience and r...

- Henry Wiygul, Android Guys

The unlocked Sony Xperia Z5 is an attractive Android phone with solid performance, but there are better options available for the price.

- Ajay Kumar, PC Magazine

If you've been looking for a good phone rocking a fantastic camera, then you should definitely take a look at the Sony Xperia Z5. It's got a beautiful display, a long-lasting battery, and a design that's easy on the eyes — even if it doesn't always feel solid in your hand. The processor should...

- Jen Karner, Android Community

There will always be things we don’t like about a phone, but overall the Sony Xperia Z5 is a quality phone that performs well and looks good. It takes great photos and the battery life is substantial. So if you need a workhorse with a decent amount of processing power, the Z5 is a good choice.

If your Xperia Z5 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Rate It:

Critic Reviews

Another winning flagship

The Xperia Z5 is a powerful smartphone that gets the job done in a no-nonsense, business-like manner. It also happens to be equipped with a jaw-droppingly good camera and a relatively affordable price tag, which goes a long way in making up for its cumbersome software and physical design. Unfortu...More

The Xperia Z5 is a powerful smartphone that gets the job done in a no-nonsense, business-like manner. It also happens to be equipped with a jaw-droppingly good camera and a relatively affordable price tag, which goes a long way in making up for its cumbersome software and physical design. Unfortunately, both the Z5 and the Z5 Compact are still somewhat tricky to track down in the US, so you might need to order through an online retailer if you're hoping to nab one.

A sleek and snappy flagship

If you are looking for a well-designed phone that can take a beating, flies through performance, takes mostly good photos, and looks stunning doing it, there are not many other phones out there that fit this description better than the Xperia Z5. Couple all of that with a near stock experience an...More

If you are looking for a well-designed phone that can take a beating, flies through performance, takes mostly good photos, and looks stunning doing it, there are not many other phones out there that fit this description better than the Xperia Z5. Couple all of that with a near stock experience and relatively quick updates from Sony and you have got yourself a phone that should have no trouble lasting for the next two years.

A great camera can't save a compromised phone

If you've been looking for a good phone rocking a fantastic camera, then you should definitely take a look at the Sony Xperia Z5. It's got a beautiful display, a long-lasting battery, and a design that's easy on the eyes — even if it doesn't always feel solid in your hand. The...More

If you've been looking for a good phone rocking a fantastic camera, then you should definitely take a look at the Sony Xperia Z5. It's got a beautiful display, a long-lasting battery, and a design that's easy on the eyes — even if it doesn't always feel solid in your hand. The processor should easily handle anything you throw at it, both today and into the future.

A show jumping workhorse

There will always be things we don’t like about a phone, but overall the Sony Xperia Z5 is a quality phone that performs well and looks good. It takes great photos and the battery life is substantial. So if you need a workhorse with a decent amount of processing power, the Z5 is a good choice.

There will always be things we don’t like about a phone, but overall the Sony Xperia Z5 is a quality phone that performs well and looks good. It takes great photos and the battery life is substantial. So if you need a workhorse with a decent amount of processing power, the Z5 is a good choice.

Excellent detail but unintuitive camera app structure

The Sony Xperia Z5 is an easy recommendation for all mobile photographers who want excellent image detail and a smartphone that handles well as a camera. Just be aware that you might want to replace some of the stock imaging applications with alternatives from the Google Play Store.

The Sony Xperia Z5 is an easy recommendation for all mobile photographers who want excellent image detail and a smartphone that handles well as a camera. Just be aware that you might want to replace some of the stock imaging applications with alternatives from the Google Play Store.

A sharp all-rounder that will leave you smiling

The Z5 continues to impress. It’s fast, responsive, and does a brilliant job as a multimedia device. That 23MP camera is also very smart, with impressive image stabilisation and the front-facing 5.1MP snapper will still capture a thousand likes.

The Z5 continues to impress. It’s fast, responsive, and does a brilliant job as a multimedia device. That 23MP camera is also very smart, with impressive image stabilisation and the front-facing 5.1MP snapper will still capture a thousand likes.

Competent and handsome

The Sony Xperia Z5 isn’t a flagship phone, and is also too expensive to be considered a true mid-range handset. It sits in something of a no-man’s land, yet has the goods to be more than serviceable. The issue is that the device doesn’t do enough to stand out in a crowded market...More

The Sony Xperia Z5 isn’t a flagship phone, and is also too expensive to be considered a true mid-range handset. It sits in something of a no-man’s land, yet has the goods to be more than serviceable. The issue is that the device doesn’t do enough to stand out in a crowded market, especially in a year where a number of good smartphones have been released. The Xperia Z5 Premium bests this model with its larger 4K display and more power under the hood.

It is undoubtedly an impressive flagship smartphone

The Sony Xperia Z5 is one of the most powerful smartphones released in the second half of 2015. Its biggest selling-points are the fantastic design finish and the 23-megapixel camera. While a few quibbles can be made about the Z5’s color calibration and display to size ratio, it is undoubtedly an impressive flagship smartphone.

The Sony Xperia Z5 is one of the most powerful smartphones released in the second half of 2015. Its biggest selling-points are the fantastic design finish and the 23-megapixel camera. While a few quibbles can be made about the Z5’s color calibration and display to size ratio, it is undoubtedly an impressive flagship smartphone.

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